Eco-Friendly Quick Tips And Facts

This quick list of ideas is the perfect place to start if you plan on going green in your life and home. Browse this list and discover where you can reduce your ecological footprint an even save money at the same time.

One sponge can last as long as 17 rolls of paper towels. Be sure to sanitize it by running it in the microwave for 2 minutes once a week to kill bacteria.

Never use disinfectants to clean a refrigerator. The food inside will pick up the taste and odor of the cleaning solution. Warm soapy water works well and is a less harmful choice.

To freshen the air in your home, put a few drops of lemon juice in your vacuum bag when you change it. The fresh smell will spread throughout the house when you vacuum.

Adding a skylight is one of the quickest ways to make any room brighter, creating an open and airy feeling. Skylights produce a top-lit architectural drama that windows often can't match. Plus, dollar-for-dollar, they'll usually bring in more light than windows.

Around 50 percent of heat loss in the average home is through loft space and walls. Proper insulation can be an investment initially, but could end up saving you hundreds of dollars over the life span of your home.

In the winter, opening drapes and curtains on sunny days takes advantage of the sun's heating power. Then, close all drapes, blinds or shades at night in the winter to make use of their insulating properties.

Any joints between building materials is a likely place to find heated air leaking out of the house. If two dissimilar materials meet, the chances of air leakage are even greater. When tightening up your house for the fall, scrutinize these areas with particular care.

Heat loss through windows represents a significant amount of most heating bills. Some sources estimate that heat loss through windows alone could account to 35 percent of heating bills. In home designs that feature multiple or large windows, it is important to caulk cracks, install clear plastic film to the window trim inside the house or decorate windows for efficiency. Decorating solutions include closed shutters, shades, blinds or lined draperies. For long-range solutions, installing storm windows and doors will eliminate problem drafts.

Ceiling fans can save energy in both the summer and the winter. In the summer, fan blades should revolve in a counterclockwise direction. In winter months, set your fan at its slowest speed and reverse it in order to push warm air down.

Fill empty spaces in your refrigerator and freezer with water jugs. You'll save energy and money because it takes more energy to run an empty refrigerator and freezer than a full one.

To maximize efficiency, wash only full loads of clothes when possible and always clean the dryer's lint filter after every load.